SF#08 Switching to alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Fuel switching is often considered an essential step in achieving a low-carbon future. It replaces inefficient fuels with cleaner alternatives, such as substituting coal for natural gas or a suitable biofuel.
Combined with modern technology, fuel switching can be a relatively simple approach to reducing energy consumption and costs for end-users, while also curbing carbon emissions.
The clay brick sector emits 2.6 million tonnes of C02 per year and the biggest contributor to this being the over reliance on the combustion of coal to meet the energy demands of the brick kilns (CBA, 2017). Fuel switching practices replace or reduce the over dependence on inefficient, carbon intensive fuels such as coal with cleaner alternatives such as natural gas and biomass as explained below. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) (2018), other benefits that companies may experience from the switch to less carbon intensive fuels are:
- Preferential support from national and internal regulations in terms of fiscal incentives due to the massive drive to reduce carbon emissions.
- Energy security and reliability
- Improvements in performance and lower long-term operational costs
Technical Contributors
- Lodewijk Nell: Technical Consultant - EcoMetrix Africa
- CBA Technical Committee
